Honda CR-Z facelift makes world debut in Indonesia

Greetings from Jakarta, where we are reporting live from the Indonesia International Motor Show at the JI Expo. There have been a number of debuts, but none as big as this – Honda has given the facelifted CR-Z its world premiere at the show. The hybrid was expected to debut in Paris next week.

External revisions to the car include a newly-designed front grille and front bumper, as well as reworked fog lamps. Elsewhere, there are also new HID head lights, rear LED combination lamps, door mirrors, rear diffuser and a new 17-inch alloy wheel.

Interior changes are made up of a new two-tone black and red fabric for the seats, while the instrument panel tachometer now illuminates in three different backlight colours (blue, red and green), depending on the mode chosen (Normal, Sport and ECON). Aside from this, there is the inclusion of a new Plus Sport System, where the engine and motor offers a more performance-oriented response, switchable through a S+ button. The car was locked, so unfortunately there are no shots of the interior to be had.

The Indonesian press release lists the power output of the 1.5 litre i-VTEC engine on the updated car as 120 PS at 6,600 rpm for the six-speed manual and 118 PS for the CVT, and adds that the 100-volt IMA motor offers 20 PS.

However, in hybrid systems, total system output doesn’t exactly work by adding combustion and electric motor numbers, which in this case would be 140 PS and 138 PS respectively. The CR-Z facelift’s new total output number is now 135 PS at 6,600 rpm and 172 Nm from 1,000 rpm to 3,000 rpm for the CVT, while the six-speed manual model does 136 PS at 6,600 rpm and 190 Nm between 1,000 rpm to 2,000 rpm. Comparatively, the current car has 124 PS and 174 Nm.

Safety kit includes ABS, EBD and brake assist, VSA, active headrests, dual front airbags as well as side airbags with OPDS (occupant postion detection sensor) and side curtain airbags.

Two new colours debut alongside the car, Premium Northern Lights Violet (the tone as seen on the teaser image recently) and Premium Energetic Yellow Pearl, which is the colour of the debutant. It will also be available in White Pearl, Crystal Black and Milano Red.

In Indonesia, the new CR-Z is slated to make its market debut in February next year.

Anthony Lim believes that nothing is better than a good smoke and a car with character, with good handling aspects being top of the prize heap. Having spent more than a decade and a half with an English tabloid daily never being able to grasp the meaning of brevity or being succinct, he wags his tail furiously at the idea of waffling - in greater detail - about cars and all their intrinsic peculiarities here.

The electric motor doesn’t add much in terms of outright HP but it should add quite a bit to the torque. Its maximum torque at 0rpm for electric motors. If done right, hybrid performance car should be using the electric motor to enhance performance , not so much fuel economy. All said, I like the looks, and would buy one if I didn’t already have a sports car.

More like another type of turbo charging. Agree in fact, hope to see production cars to have like KERS (Kinetic Energy Return System) like those in F1 where braking and such the energy is return to a motor like charging device and to release them in times of need.

seriously, an EURO III emission tier for an “environmentally friendly” car? The engine on Prius C and even on pure gasoline VW Polo complies with standard regulations of EURO V emissions. what is going on here, Honda?

fedup doh dengan comments with hybrid.u like u buy, u dont like u shadap..u smart u make own car la..u stupid u shadap..its not bout the power..its not a sports car..its a fun car.like the 86..not powderfull but very niceeee to drive..

Well as you know the CR-Z just launched only November 2011. While the CVT just launched this year June. Therefore, I doubt its gonna reach our shores very soon. Lets say if it reach here earliest maybe March. With the waiting list, I think most probably only by Year End of 2013

The price is a bit too high though, booking price for the manual is Rp. 475 Million (US$48K) while the auto is Rp. 485 Million (US$49K), but it’s still cheaper than the private importers price which goes as high as US$68K.

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